U.S. patent number 8,447,703 [Application Number 12/841,947] was granted by the patent office on 2013-05-21 for product delivery system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hitachi, Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Yohei Kawada, Daisuke Shibata, Naohiro Yuasa. Invention is credited to Yohei Kawada, Daisuke Shibata, Naohiro Yuasa.
United States Patent |
8,447,703 |
Yuasa , et al. |
May 21, 2013 |
Product delivery system
Abstract
A sensor device for detecting product quality conditions is
attached to each product to be delivered, and constant monitoring
is performed on quality conditions of stock products in a storage
room of a delivery center for quality assurance. For products in a
storage room of a delivery truck, constant monitoring is also
performed on quality conditions thereof in the same manner. If a
quality abnormality is found in a product in the storage room,
information regarding product sensing items and information
regarding the current location of each delivery truck are processed
to select a replacement stock product less susceptible to
recurrence of a similar quality abnormality at the time of
redelivery.
Inventors: |
Yuasa; Naohiro (Yokohama,
JP), Kawada; Yohei (Sagamihara, JP),
Shibata; Daisuke (Yokohama, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yuasa; Naohiro
Kawada; Yohei
Shibata; Daisuke |
Yokohama
Sagamihara
Yokohama |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hitachi, Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
43384490 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/841,947 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110087612 A1 |
Apr 14, 2011 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 14, 2009 [JP] |
|
|
2009-236796 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/332 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
10/0832 (20130101); G06Q 10/0838 (20130101); G06Q
10/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
30/00 (20120101) |
Field of
Search: |
;705/332 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Zagone, Eileen. "Choosing and Using Scrap Radiation Detection
Equipment." Modern Casting, v 89, n 11, p p43. Nov. 1999. cited by
examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Hayes; John
Assistant Examiner: Jung; Allen J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Foley & Lardner LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A product delivery system for delivering products of various
kinds each having at least one specified quality assurance range,
the product delivery system comprising: a first memory configured
to store product information regarding a plurality of products
having the same specified quality assurance range; a second memory
configured to store delivery vehicle information regarding
characteristics of a plurality of delivery vehicles used for
delivering products; information receiving unit configured to
receive, from each delivery vehicle, abnormality information
regarding detection of a quality abnormality that is a condition
exceeding the specified quality assurance range of each product
placed in a storage environment, and product identification
information for identifying each product; product specifying unit
configured to specify a product to be redelivered according to the
stored product information regarding the plurality of products
having the same specified quality assurance range; delivery vehicle
specifying unit configured to propose information regarding each
delivery vehicle having characteristics capable of satisfying the
specified quality assurance range of the specified product to be
redelivered according to the stored delivery vehicle information
regarding characteristics of the plurality of delivery vehicles
used for delivering products; delivery vehicle information
extracting unit configured to extract information regarding each
delivery vehicle that meets redelivery conditions required for the
specified product to be redelivered according to the proposed
information regarding each delivery vehicle having characteristics
capable of satisfying the specified quality assurance range of the
specified product to be redelivered; and output unit configured to
output the extracted information regarding each delivery vehicle to
indicate a candidate delivery vehicle for the specified product to
be redelivered, wherein the product specifying unit is configured
to: specify preferentially a product less susceptible to a quality
abnormality similar to a detected quality abnormality according to
the stored product information; and specify a product that meets
the redelivery conditions at the time of redelivery by referring to
information that indicates a product state monitored at every
constant time interval.
2. The product delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the
redelivery conditions include an indication of time and date of
redelivery, a place of each delivery center, and a current location
of each delivery vehicle, which are memorized along with the
characteristics of the plurality of delivery vehicles.
3. The product delivery system according to claim 1, further
comprising: an additional information extracting unit configured to
extract information regarding a candidate delivery vehicle
according to the kind of a detected quality abnormality for the
specified product to be redelivered through selection based on the
extracted information regarding each delivery vehicle.
4. The product delivery system according to claim 1, wherein each
of the products includes packing material therefor.
5. The product delivery system according to claim 4, further
comprising: a history information storing unit configured to store
history information regarding quality abnormalities detected in the
past with respect to each sensing item for abnormality detection in
each product; wherein the product specifying unit is configured to
specify a product to be redelivered according to the stored history
information.
6. The product delivery system according to claim 5, wherein the
history information storing unit is configured to sort the history
information on the basis of each sensing item and to store the
history information thus sorted.
7. The product delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the
system is further configured to provide a first selection
processing for determining a product to be redelivered through
selection from a plurality of kinds of quality abnormalities, and a
second selection processing for determining a delivery truck
storage room having specifications that are within required quality
assurance ranges; and wherein the first selection processing and
the second selection processing are carried out in synchronous
parallel operation while ensuring associative relationship
therebetween.
8. The product delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the
system is further configured to determine a shortest-time
redelivery route to be taken by a candidate delivery vehicle so as
to circumvent a route where a location corresponding to a detected
quality abnormality has been indicated.
9. A product delivery method for delivering products of various
kinds each having at least one specified quality assurance range,
the method executed by a server that includes a computer and a
memory and is included in a product delivery system, the product
delivery method comprising: storing, using the server, product
information regarding a plurality of identical products having the
same specified quality assurance range into the memory; storing,
using the server, delivery vehicle information regarding
characteristics of a plurality of delivery vehicles used for
delivering products into the memory; receiving, using the server,
from each delivery vehicle, abnormality information regarding
detection of a quality abnormality that is a condition exceeding
the specified quality assurance range of each product placed in a
storage environment, and product identification information for
identifying each product; specifying, using the server, a product
to be redelivered according to the stored product information
regarding the plurality of products having the same specified
quality assurance range; proposing, using by the server,
information regarding each delivery vehicle having characteristics
capable of satisfying the specified quality assurance range of the
specified product to be redelivered according to the stored
delivery vehicle information regarding characteristics of the
plurality of delivery vehicles used for delivering products;
extracting,by the server, information regarding each delivery
vehicle that meets redelivery conditions required for the specified
product to be redelivered according to the proposed information
regarding each delivery vehicle having characteristics capable of
satisfying the specified quality assurance range of the specified
product to be redelivered; and outputting, using the server, the
extracted information regarding each delivery vehicle to indicate a
candidate delivery vehicle for the specified product to be
redelivered, wherein the specifying a product to be redelivered
further comprises: specifying preferentially a product less
susceptible to a quality abnormality similar to a detected quality
abnormality according to the stored product information; and
specifying a product that meets the redelivery conditions at the
time of redelivery by referring to information that indicates a
product state monitored at every constant time interval, by the
server.
10. The product delivery method according to claim 9, wherein the
redelivery conditions include an indication of time and date of
redelivery, a place of each delivery center, and a current location
of each delivery vehicle, which are memorized along with the
characteristics of the plurality of delivery vehicles.
11. The product delivery method according to claim 9, further
comprising: extracting, using the server information regarding a
candidate delivery vehicle according to the kind of a detected
quality abnormality for the specified product to be redelivered
through selection based on the extracted information regarding each
delivery vehicle.
12. The product delivery method according to claim 9, wherein each
of the products includes packing material therefor.
13. The product delivery method according to claim 12, further
comprising: storing, using the server, history information
regarding quality abnormalities detected in the past with respect
to each sensing item for abnormality detection in each product;
wherein the specifying a product to be redelivered further
comprises specifying, using the server, a product to be redelivered
according to the stored history information.
14. The product delivery method according to claim 13, wherein the
step of storing history information further comprises sorting,
using the server, the history information on the basis of each
sensing item and storing, using the server, the sorted history
information.
15. The product delivery method according to claim 9, further
comprising a first selection processing for determining, using the
server, a product to be redelivered through selection from a
plurality of kinds of quality abnormalities, and a second selection
processing for determining, using the server, a delivery truck
storage room having specifications that are within required quality
assurance ranges; wherein the first selection processing and the
second selection processing are carried out in synchronous parallel
operation while ensuring associative relationship therebetween.
16. The product delivery method according to claim 9, further
comprising determining, using the server, a shortest-time
redelivery route to be taken by a candidate delivery vehicle so as
to circumvent a route where a location corresponding to a detected
quality abnormality has been indicated.
Description
The present application claims priority from Japanese application
serial No. 2009-236796, filed on (Oct. 14, 2009), the content of
which is hereby incorporated by reference into this
application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to techniques for checking quality
conditions of goods including commercial products and commodity
products (hereinafter just referred to as products) in delivery
through use of sensors, i.e., techniques for checking historical
quality conditions such as changes in temperature/humidity and
degrees of impact applied to products in delivery through use of
sensors. In particular, the present invention relates to a
technique for replacement product redelivery to be performed on
occurrence of a quality abnormality that is a condition exceeding a
specified quality assurance range of a product in the field of
physical distribution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, in physical distribution service, most products are
transported by delivery trucks specifically arranged for product
quality assurance with respect to such conditions as temperature,
humidity, and impact during delivery.
Further, instead of conventional shopping wherein customers go to
retail shops and bring back purchased products therefrom, Internet
shopping is becoming prevalent to cause a significant increase in
physical distribution from delivery centers to delivery
destinations without customers having to go to real shops for
product purchasing.
Under these circumstances, it has been desired to provide further
reliable quality assurance for products in delivery due to the need
for higher security and safety in physical distribution based on
Internet shopping and physical distribution in business-to-business
transactions. More specifically, a higher level of reliability in
quality assurance has been desired in increasing physical
distribution of medical products and frozen foods requiring strict
temperature control, clothing items susceptible to humidity, and
household electric appliances containing precision devices
vulnerable to impact, for example.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-9294, there is
disclosed a technique for implementing a product delivery system
wherein temperature data is acquired from a temperature sensor
attached to each product in delivery, current location data of a
delivery truck is acquired through the Global Positioning System
(GPS), and based on this data thus acquired, the quality conditions
and current location of each product in delivery are indicated in
real time to the persons concerned at a delivery source, deliverer
location, and delivery destination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the technique disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2009-9294, although it is possible to acquire
information regarding the quality conditions of each product in
delivery, a redelivery process for a replacement product is not
taken into consideration which is required on detection of a
condition exceeding a quality assurance range (temperature,
humidity, impact) specified for each product.
Even if the information regarding the quality conditions of each
product in delivery is acquired, a replacement product having a
characteristic susceptible to occurrence of a quality abnormality
may be selected for redelivery, or a storage environment/delivery
route that is likely to allow the occurrence of a quality
abnormality in a replacement product may be selected for
redelivery, thereby resulting in the presence of a tendency to
recurrence of a similar quality abnormality. It is to be noted that
the term "each product" as used herein signifies a unit to be
delivered that includes packing material therefor. That is, even if
products per se are identical with each other, the degrees of
resistance thereof to environmental changes differ depending on the
kind of packing material and the form of packing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
technique for reducing the likelihood of recurrence of a similar
quality abnormality at the time of redelivery of a replacement
product.
In solving this object of the present invention and according one
aspect thereof, there is provided a technique wherein, when a
quality abnormality that is a condition exceeding a quality
assurance range (temperature, humidity, impact) specified for each
product in delivery is detected through use of a sensor, a
replacement product for redelivery is specified as an individual
article, information regarding each delivery vehicle having
functional characteristics capable of satisfying the specified
quality assurance range is proposed, information regarding a
delivery vehicle that meets redelivery conditions including an
indication of time and date of redelivery, a place of each delivery
center, a current location of each delivery vehicle, and
environmental conditions is extracted according to the proposed
information regarding each delivery vehicle having functional
characteristics capable of satisfying the specified quality
assurance range, and the extracted information regarding each
delivery vehicle is output to indicate a candidate delivery vehicle
for redelivering the specified replacement product. The above
processing for replacement product selection and delivery vehicle
selection is implemented by matching comparison with relevant
information stored in a memory apparatus.
In delivery vehicle selection, it is preferable to determine a
delivery vehicle through examination of the kind of a detected
quality abnormality. In replacement product selection, it is also
preferable to determine a replacement product having a
characteristic less susceptible to occurrence of a quality
abnormality even under the same environmental conditions. This
processing for replacement product selection is implemented in a
fashion that the characteristics (information indicating the degree
of resistance to each kind of quality abnormality) of each product
(each individual article or each kind of delivery unit/packing
material/packing form) are memorized in advance, and according
thereto, a product that is unlikely to incur a particular kind of
quality abnormality, i.e., a product having a higher degree of
resistance to a particular kind of quality abnormality is specified
preferentially.
Further, based on quality abnormality history information acquired
in the past, a quality abnormality tendency is figured out with
respect to each sensing item corresponding to each product code.
Then, stock product data is sorted in relation to abnormality-prone
sensing item corresponding to each product code. By using the stock
product data thus sorted, the processing for replacement product
selection can be carried out at higher speed. This feature is
included in the present invention as a preferable aspect
thereof.
The present invention also includes the following features. As a
precondition, it is assumed that each product under control of a
product delivery system according to the present invention has at
least one quality assurance range specified by a manufacturer
thereof with respect to quality-assurable environmental conditions
such as temperature, humidity, and impact to be applied in
delivery. A delivery center included in the product delivery system
receives each product from the manufacturer thereof. At the time of
receipt of each product, in accordance with a principle of quality
control for stock in each delivery center, protective packing is
provided for the product, and the product with protective packing
in a state ready for shipment is stored in a storage room of the
delivery center. The principle of quality control for stock may
differ from one delivery center to another, i.e., simplified
quality control may be implemented in some delivery centers for
reduction in cost while strict quality control may be implemented
in other delivery centers for ensuring higher reliability for
customers.
A sensor device for detecting product quality conditions, which
contains a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and an impact
sensor for example, is attached to a retrievable position on each
product to be delivered. Each product having a sensor device
attached thereon is placed in a storage room arranged for quality
control in each delivery center, e.g., a storage room equipped with
a refrigerator/freezer for inside temperature control, a
thermo-hygrostat chamber for humidity control, and a
shock-absorbing spring device for impact resistance control. Thus,
for quality assurance, constant monitoring is performed to acquire
information regarding quality conditions of stock products.
Further, on each delivery vehicle such as a delivery truck, there
is provided an apparatus for acquiring current location information
thereof. Similarly to the delivery center, each product is placed
in a storage room arranged for quality control on the delivery
vehicle. Thus, for quality assurance during delivery, constant
monitoring is performed to acquire information regarding quality
conditions of products in the storage room of the delivery
vehicle.
Through comparison between the acquired information regarding
quality conditions of each product in the delivery center or
delivery truck and quality assurance ranges specified for each
product, it is checked whether there has occurred a quality
abnormality that is a condition exceeding a specified quality
assurance range due to a hazardous event, an accident, a failure of
the storage room, or the like. If a quality abnormality is found, a
replacement product is redelivered in the following manner: On
detection of a quality abnormality through use of a sensor attached
to each product, information regarding temperature, humidity, or
impact corresponding to the sensor-detected quality abnormality
(product sensing information) is compared with information
regarding temperature, humidity, or impact of each stock product in
the delivery center. Based on the result of this comparison, a
proper stock product having a characteristic less susceptible to
recurrence of a similar quality abnormality is selected. If the
cause of a quality abnormality is judged to be a failure of the
storage room of the delivery truck through use of an apparatus
thereof for detecting quality conditions, a redelivery procedure is
taken so as to avoid the use of the faulty storage room of the
delivery truck. Further, if a quality abnormality has occurred
during delivery, a delivery route where the quality abnormality has
been detected is circumvented in redelivery routing according to
historical location information and routing information of the
delivery truck concerned. Thus, a replacement product is
redelivered so as to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of a
similar quality abnormality.
In a server of a data center that is coupled to respective data
processing points including a delivery center and a delivery truck
through a network, there are stored product information regarding
product stock quantities and product quality assurance ranges,
delivery center information containing addresses of delivery
centers, product sensing information regarding stock products in
each delivery center, product sensing information regarding
products during delivery, and other information/data. In the event
of a quality abnormality, according to this information/data,
redelivery processing (including replacement product selection and
redelivery route selection) is carried out in the server of the
data center.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As described above and according to the present invention, in a
situation where a quality abnormality has occurred during delivery
of a product, it is possible to provide the advantageous effect of
reducing the likelihood of recurrence of a similar quality
abnormality at the time of redelivery of a replacement product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram regarding one of the
best modes in implementation of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a data center;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an inventory table
213;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a customer master table
214;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a product master table
215;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an individual product
information table 216;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery center master
table 217;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery center storage
room specification master table 218;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery truck master
table 219;
FIG. 10 is a delivery truck storage specification master table
220;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a receipt-of-product
status table 221;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a shipment-of-product
information table 222;
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery center storage
room status table 223;
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery truck storage
room status table 224;
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a delivery status table
225;
FIG. 16 is a general flowchart of system operation;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a receipt-of-product procedural step
s10;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an acceptance-of-delivery-request
procedural step s11;
FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a delivery procedural step s12;
FIG. 20 is a flowchart of an abnormality judgment procedural step
s13 for checking whether the quality of any product in delivery is
abnormal;
FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a preparation-for-redelivery procedural
step s15 to be taken on detection of a quality abnormality;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of an inventory check step s151 to be taken
for redelivery;
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of parallel processing in a product/delivery
truck storage room selection step s152 to be taken for
redelivery;
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a delivery truck/delivery center
selection step s154 to be taken for redelivery;
FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a redelivery route selection step s155 to
be taken for redelivery;
FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a redelivery procedural step s16 to be
taken for delivering a replacement product in case of detection of
a quality abnormality;
FIG. 27 is a flowchart of an arrival-of-product procedural step s18
to be taken at the time of arrival at a destination of product
delivery;
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a quality abnormality
history table 226;
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a receipt-of-product
status view 228 to be presented after sorting based on a tendency
to occurrence of a quality abnormality;
FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrival-of-product
history table 227; and
FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a receipt-of-product
status view 229 to be presented after sorting in ascending order of
differences between quality conditions of products in receipt and
average data of shipment quality conditions of products for which
actual deliveries have been completed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described in detail by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hardware configuration of a
product delivery system according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In the product delivery system according to the
present preferred embodiment, quality conditions of products in
delivery are monitored with respect to temperature, humidity, and
impact by using sensors, and in case of detection of a quality
abnormality, a trouble-countermeasure processing procedure is
carried out to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of a similar
quality abnormality at the time of redelivery of a replacement
product.
Apparatuses included in the product delivery system according to
the present preferred embodiment are disposed in the following
places of data processing points; a delivery center 13 from which
products are delivered, a delivery truck 11 for carrying products,
a manufacturer 14 where products are manufactured, and a data
center 12. Each of these data processing points is coupled to a
network 15. On each product 116 to be handled in the product
delivery system according to the present preferred embodiment, a
sensor-integrated RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag 115 for
detecting product quality conditions such as temperature, humidity,
and impact to be applied in delivery is attached at the time of
shipment from each manufacturer 14 or at the time of receipt at
each delivery center 13.
The apparatuses disposed at each data processing point will be
described below.
In the product delivery system according to the present preferred
embodiment, there is provided at least one delivery center 13,
wherein the following procedures are carried out; a receipt
procedure for receiving products from each manufacturer 14 thereof,
an inventory control procedure for managing stock products, an
acceptance procedure for accepting delivery requests from
customers, and a delivery procedure for handing over object
products to each delivery truck 11. In the delivery center 13, at
least one storage room 130 is installed as a facility for storing
products. The storage room 130 is equipped with a storage room
sensor 114 for detecting storage quality conditions such as inside
temperature, humidity, and impact to be applied to products in
custody. Further, in the delivery center 13, a storage
administrative terminal 132 is provided for making reference to
information regarding acceptance of product delivery requests from
customers, for registering product information at the time of
receipt of products, and for receiving e-mails from a server 120
installed in the data center 12. Quality conditions of products and
storage states thereof in the storage room 130 are acquired through
communication by radio waves. In this regard, there are installed
an antenna 117 for radio wave communication with each sensor, a
reader/writer 118 for converting radio waves received by the
antenna 117 into electrical information, and a control terminal 119
used for controlling the reader/writer 118. Information concerning
product quality conditions and storage states acquired through use
of these apparatuses is transmitted to the data center 12 via a
communication terminal 113.
In the product delivery system according to the present preferred
embodiment, there is provided at least one delivery truck 11, which
carries products 116 loaded thereon at the delivery center 13 to
each delivery destination. On the delivery truck 11, at least one
storage room 110 is installed for storing products 116. The storage
room 110 of the delivery truck 11 is equipped with a
refrigerator/freezer and a shock-absorbing device using springs or
the like as required for keeping product quality with respect to
temperature, humidity, and impact. Further, the storage room 110 is
equipped with a storage room sensor 114 for detecting storage
quality conditions of products therein. Similarly to the case of
the delivery center 13, quality conditions of products and storage
states thereof in the storage room 110 are acquired through
communication by radio waves. In this regard, there are installed
an antenna 117 for radio wave communication with each sensor, a
reader/writer 118 for converting radio waves received by the
antenna 117 into electrical information, and a control terminal 119
used for controlling the reader/writer 118. Information concerning
product quality conditions and storage states acquired through use
of these apparatuses is transmitted to the data center 12 via a
communication terminal 113. In addition, the delivery truck 11 is
provided with a deliverer communication terminal 112 for a driver
thereof to receive messages such as notifications of redelivery
requests from the data center 12 or a deliverer communication
terminal 112 including GPS functions that is available also for
acquiring current location information of the delivery truck
11.
In the product delivery system according to the present preferred
embodiment, there is included a least one manufacturer 14 where
products 116 related to the present preferred embodiment are
manufactured. In the manufacturer 14, a registration terminal 140
is installed for registering product quality assurance ranges (to
be described in detail later). Information registered at the
registration terminal 140 is transmitted to the data center 12 via
a communication terminal 113 through the network 15. The server 120
installed in the data center 12 is coupled to the network 15 via a
communication terminal 113 for collecting and managing information
from apparatuses at respective data processing points of the
product delivery system. As required, the server 120 creates
necessary delivery-related information and transmits the
information to each apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a configuration of the data
center 12. The server 120 includes a CPU 212 for carrying out
product delivery data processing related to the present preferred
embodiment, a memory 211 for temporarily storing data to be
processed by the CPU 212, a database 230 including a group of
tables for storing and managing information collected from
respective data processing points (to be described below), and a
program memory area 231.
In the database 230, the following tables are included: an
inventory table 213 for holding inventory information of products
in the delivery center 13, a customer master table 214 for holding
information regarding customers corresponding to destinations of
product delivery, a product master table 215 for holding
information regarding product quality assurance ranges, an
individual product information table 216 for managing
correspondence relationships between individual products and
product codes, a delivery center master table 217 for holding
information regarding each delivery center 13 where products to be
delivered are stored, a delivery center storage room specification
master table 218 for registering storage room specifications of
each delivery center 13, a delivery truck master table 219 for
holding information regarding each delivery truck 11, a delivery
truck storage room specification master table 220 for registering
storage room specifications of each delivery truck 11, a
receipt-of-product status table 221 for holding information
regarding receipt of products at each delivery center 13 and
quality conditions of products stored therein, a
shipment-of-product information table 222 for holding information
regarding shipment of products to be loaded onto each delivery
truck 11 in response to delivery requests from customers, a
delivery center storage room status table 223 for registering
conditions of each delivery center storage room 130 in a
time-series sequence, a delivery truck storage room status table
224 for holding information regarding each delivery truck storage
room 110 set in the delivery truck 11, a delivery status table 225
for registering quality conditions of products during delivery, a
quality abnormality history table 226 for registering quality
conditions in case of detection of a quality abnormality in
products during delivery, and an arrival-of-product history table
227 for registering shipment quality conditions of products that
have arrived at delivery destinations thereof. The program memory
area 231 is used to store programs for processing data transmitted
to the server 120, i.e., in the server 120. The data transmitted to
the server is processed under the direction of programs stored in
the program memory area 231.
With reference to FIGS. 3 to 15, the following describes exemplary
configurations of the tables mentioned above.
The inventory table 213 shown in FIG. 3 is used for registering the
stock quantity corresponding to each product code specified to
indicate an identical kind of product in each delivery center. A
value of stock quantity registered in the inventory table 213 is
updated according to an increase or decrease in stock. The
inventory table 213 contains the entry items of delivery center ID
400, product code 401, and stock quantity 402.
The customer master table 214 shown in FIG. 4 is used for
registering information regarding customers at the time of request
for product delivery. When a quality abnormality is detected in a
product to be delivered to a destination thereof, the server 120
provides relevant notification to the customer according to the
customer master table 214. The customer master table 214 contains
the entry items of customer ID 410 for uniquely identifying each
customer, customer name 411, and e-mail address 412 for
notification to each customer.
The product master table 215 shown in FIG. 5 is used for
registering information regarding quality assurance ranges of each
kind of product from respective manufacturers 14. A quality
assurance range is specified for each kind of product, and record
data is provided for each product code. The product master table
215 contains the entry items of product code 420, product name 421,
manufacturer name 422 representing a registrant of each product
quality assurance range, temperature 423, humidity 424, and impact
425 (quality assurance ranges are indicated by the entry items of
temperature, humidity, and impact). In a case where "0-30" is
indicated as a quality assurance range, the quality of the product
concerned is assured within a conditional range of 0 to 30. In a
case where "below 0" is indicated as a quality assurance range, the
quality of the product concerted is assured at a level below 0.
The individual product information table 216 shown in FIG. 6 is
used for managing individual products according product tag
information. The individual product information table 216 contains
the entry items of product tag ID 430 for indicating each ID code
such as an RFID assigned to each product, and product code 431 for
indicating a kind of individual product.
The delivery center master table 217 shown in FIG. 7 is used for
managing information regarding each delivery center 13. The
delivery center master table 217 contains the following entry
items: a delivery center ID 440 for indicating an ID code of each
delivery center, a delivery center name 441 for indicating the name
of each delivery center, an address 442 for indicating the address
of each delivery center, and operating hours 443 for indicating
hours of operation in each delivery center. For example, in the
entry item of operating hours, "6-18" indicates that the delivery
center concerned is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and "0-24"
indicates that the delivery center concerned is open on a 24-hour
basis. In addition to these entry items, the delivery center master
table 217 also contains the entry item of e-mail address 444 for
indicating an e-mail address of the administrator of each delivery
center for communication thereto.
The delivery center storage room specification master table 218
shown in FIG. 8 is used for registering information regarding
specifications of each storage room 130 in each delivery center 13.
The delivery center storage room specification master table 218
contains the following entry items: a delivery center ID 450, a
storage room ID 451 for indicating an ID code of each storage room
in each delivery center, and temperature 452 and humidity 453 for
indicating a quality-assurable range for each sensing item of each
storage room. In a case where "-30-0" indicated as a value range of
temperature 452, quality assurance is allowed in a temperature
range of -30.degree. C. to 0.degree. C. Similarly, in a case where
"30-60" is indicated as a value range of humidity 453, quality
assurance is allowed in a humidity range of 30% to 60%. By using a
combination of a delivery truck ID code and a storage room ID code,
it is possible to identify a storage room uniquely.
The delivery truck master table 219 shown in FIG. 9 is used for
managing information regarding each delivery truck. The delivery
truck master table 219 contains the following entry items: a
delivery truck ID 460 for indicating an ID code of each delivery
truck, a delivery truck name 461, a current location 462 for
indicating the location of each delivery truck at the current point
of time, and an e-mail address 463 for indicating an e-mail address
of the deliverer concerned for communication thereto. The entry
item of current location 462 indicates location information that
varies constantly during delivery. For the sake of simplicity in
description of the present preferred embodiment, current location
information of each delivery truck is included in the delivery
truck master table 219. There may also be provided such a separate
transaction table that contains an ID code of each delivery truck,
current location information thereof, and time and date indication
associated therewith.
The delivery truck storage room specification master table 220
shown in FIG. 10 is used for registering information regarding
specifications of a storage room 110 of each delivery truck 11.
Similarly to the delivery center storage specification master table
218, the delivery truck storage room specification master table 220
contains the following entry items: a delivery truck ID 470, a
storage room ID 471 for indicating an ID code of each storage room
110 of each delivery truck, and temperature 472, humidity 473, and
impact 474 for indicating a quality-assurable range for each
sensing item of each storage room 110.
The receipt-of-product status table 221 shown in FIG. 11 is used
for registering conditions of products received at each delivery
center 13. The receipt-of-product status table 221 contains the
following entry items: a product tag ID 480 for managing individual
products by using a sensor-integrated RFID tag attached to each
product, a delivery center ID 481, and temperature 482, humidity
483, and impact 484 for registering data values indicated by a
sensor attached to each product. In the entry items of temperature
482, humidity 483, and impact 484, sensor data values are updated
at predetermined intervals during a period from a
receipt-of-product point of time until a shipment-of-product point
of time. In the entry item of packing level 485, a packing level
code is registered to indicate a level of resistance to impact
corresponding to shock-absorbing packing materials required for
product delivery. For example, the packing level codes of "C", "B",
"A", and "S" are used. The packing level code "C" is indicated in
the case of non-requirement for shock-absorbing materials, the
packing level code "B" is indicated in the case of requirement for
cardboard packing, the packing level code "A" is indicated in the
case of requirement for cardboard packing and internal
shock-absorbing materials, and the packing level code "S" is
indicated in the case of requirement for cardboard packing,
internal shock-absorbing materials, and external shock-absorbing
materials. In addition to the entry items mentioned above, the
receipt-of-product status table 221 also contains the entry items
of time and date 486 and product status 487. In the entry item of
time and date 486, the date and time of information registration in
the table are indicated. In the entry item of product status 487,
the entries of "Received", "Ready for shipment", "In preparation",
and "Shipped" are used. The product status entry "Received" is
indicated when the product concerned is received, the product
status entry "Ready for shipment" is indicated when the product is
concerned is in a wait state for a delivery request from a customer
after receipt of the product, the product status entry "In
preparation" is indicated when a delivery request from a customer
is accepted, and the product status entry "Shipped" is indicated
when actual delivery of the product concerned is started.
The shipment-of-product information table 222 shown in FIG. 12 is
used for managing information regarding products to be shipped.
Upon determination of the delivery of the product concerned,
entries are made thereinto. The shipment-of-product information
table 222 contains the following entry items: a product tag ID 490,
a customer ID 491 for indicating an ID code of the customer
concerned according to the customer master table 214, a delivery
destination 492 for indicating a destination requested by the
customer, and a delivery truck ID 493 for indicating a truck that
delivers the product concerned.
The delivery center storage room status table 223 shown in FIG. 13
is used for registering conditions of each storage room 130 in each
delivery center 13. The delivery center storage room status table
223 contains the following entry items: a delivery center ID 500, a
storage room ID 501, storage room temperature 502, humidity 503,
impact 504, and time and date 505 for indicating the date and time
of product sensing.
The delivery truck storage room status table 224 shown in FIG. 14
is used for registering conditions of each storage room 110 of each
delivery truck 11 similarly to the delivery center storage room
status table 223. The delivery truck storage room status table 224
contains the following entry items: a delivery truck ID 510, a
storage room ID 511, storage room temperature 512, humidity 513,
impact 514, and time and date 515 for indicating the date and time
of product sensing.
The delivery status table 225 shown in FIG. 15 is used for
registering, in a time-series sequence, product sensing information
during delivery by the delivery truck 11. According to data
indicated in the delivery status table 225, a comparative check is
performed to determine whether the quality assurance range
concerned is satisfied or not. The delivery status table 225
containing the following entry items: a product tag ID 520,
temperature 522, humidity 523, impact 524 (product sensing
information including temperature, humidity, and impact values
indicated by a sensor attached to each product), a delivery state
525 for indicating a product delivery state at the point of time of
product sensing, and time and date 526 for indicate the date and
time of product sensing. In the entry item of delivery state 525,
the entries of "In delivery", "Abnormal", and "Arrived" are used.
The delivery state entry "In delivery" is indicated when the
product concerned is during delivery, the delivery state entry
"Abnormal" is indicated when a quality abnormality is detected in
the product concerned, and the delivery state entry "Arrived" is
indicated when actual delivery of the product concerned to a
destination thereof is completed.
The following describes processing operations to be performed in
the product delivery system according to the present preferred
embodiment.
First, preparative processing operations in the product delivery
system according to the present preferred embodiment are described
below. In master data registration for registering data into each
master table in the product delivery system, delivery truck
information is entered through the storage administrative terminal
132 in each delivery center at a preparative step for introducing
delivery trucks. More specifically, in the delivery truck master
table 219 held in the server 120, a delivery truck ID code, a
delivery truck name, a current location thereof, and an e-mail
address thereof are registered. In the delivery truck storage room
specification master table 220, storage room specifications
regarding temperature, humidity and impact are registered as
relevant storage room record data. On completion of the
above-mentioned registration, the server 120 issues a
completion-of-registration message for display thereof on the
storage administrative terminal 132 in each delivery center.
Current location data 462 to be entered in the delivery truck
master table 219 is acquired from each deliverer communication
terminal. In a situation where each delivery truck is not yet in
delivery operation, the current location thereof cannot be
acquired. Hence, when each delivery truck is not yet in delivery
operation, information indicating a non-operation condition is
registered into the delivery truck master table 219. When each
delivery truck is in delivery operation, the latest information
indicating the current location thereof is registered for updating
in the delivery truck master table 219. In a case where a new
delivery truck is introduced additionally, relevant information
thereof is added as new record data to the delivery truck master
table 219 and the delivery truck storage room specification master
table 220. For updating delivery truck information, relevant record
data values are updated in these tables. When each delivery truck
is put into service, the storage room sensor 114, antenna 117,
reader/writer 118, and control terminal 119 are made active.
Then, at a preparative step for each delivery center, information
regarding each delivery center is registered in a manner similar to
that in the preparative step for introducing delivery trucks. In
the delivery center master table 217 included in the database 230
of the data center 12, a delivery center ID, a delivery center
name, a delivery center address, a period of operating hours, and a
delivery center e-mail address are registered. In the delivery
center storage room specification master table 218, storage room
specifications regarding temperature and humidity are registered as
relevant storage room record data. Upon normal completion of the
above-mentioned registration, a completion-of-registration message
is displayed on the storage administrative terminal 132. If the
above-mentioned registration is not completed normally due to
improper input or the like, a failure-in-registration message is
displayed on the storage administrative terminal 132. Further,
temperature, humidity, and impact values acquired through the
storage room sensor 114 in each storage room of each delivery
center are registered as data into the entry items of temperature
502, humidity 503, and impact 504 of the delivery center storage
room status table 223. Further, from the delivery center storage
room specification master table 218, the sensing item
specifications regarding temperature 452 and humidity 453 are
acquired and compared with the temperature and humidity values
acquired through the storage room sensor in each storage room of
each delivery center to check whether each storage room of each
delivery center is normal in operation. Thus, judgment is made on
whether each storage room of each delivery center is operative
properly or not. When each delivery center is put into service, the
storage room sensor thereof and other apparatuses are made active
as in the case of the preparative step for introducing delivery
trucks.
In a situation where a manufacturer 14 puts on sale a new kind of
product to be delivered through the product delivery system
according to the present preferred embodiment, quality assurance
ranges of the new kind of product are determined and registered
additionally at a preparative step for introducing the new kind of
product. More specifically, in the product master table 215, a
product code, a product name, a manufacturer name, and quality
assurance ranges regarding temperature, humidity, and impact are
entered for registration through the registration terminal 140
installed in the manufacturer 14. On completion of the above
registration, the server 120 issues a completion-of-registration
message to the registration terminal 140.
With reference to FIG. 16, the following describes the general flow
of logistic activities in the product delivery system according to
the present preferred embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 16, the general flow includes procedural steps s10
to s18. In a receipt-of-product procedural step s10, when products
are received at each delivery center, each product is packed and a
sensor is attached to an outer case thereof. Then, the product is
placed in a proper storage room, and relevant receipt-of-product
information is registered into the database 230. In an
acceptance-of-delivery-request procedural step s11, a delivery
request from a customer is registered. In a delivery procedural
step s12, shipment information is registered into the database 230.
In an abnormality judgment procedural step s13, quality conditions
of each product in delivery are checked constantly through product
sensing, and relevant data is registered into the server for
judging whether the quality of each product is abnormal or not. In
a branching procedural step s14, a branching operation is performed
according to the result of quality abnormality judgment. In a
preparation-for-redelivery procedural step s15, an optimal stock
product, delivery center, delivery truck storage room, delivery
truck and delivery route are selected for redelivery. In a
redelivery procedural step s16, a redelivery operation is performed
according to conditions selected in the preparation-for-redelivery
procedural step. In a branching procedural step s17, judgment is
made on whether the product concerned has arrived at the delivery
destination thereof. In an arrival-of-product procedural step s18,
the product concerned is received at the delivery destination
thereof. If, in the abnormality judgment procedural step s13, no
quality abnormality is detected until arrival at the delivery
destination concerned, a transition is made to the
arrival-of-product procedural step s18 without performing the
preparation-for-redelivery procedural step s15 and the redelivery
procedural step s16. In a case where redelivery is performed after
detection of a quality abnormality, the abnormality judgment
procedural step s13 is also carried out in the same manner as in
normal delivery.
The details of each processing procedural step included in the
general flow shown in FIG. 16 are described below.
With reference to FIG. 17, the following describes the details of
the receipt-of-product procedural step s10 which is the initial
processing step of logistic activities in the product delivery
system according to the present preferred embodiment. As
preconditions, it is assumed here that, after the delivery center
13 receives an ordered quantity of products from the manufacturer
14, each of the products received is packed, and a
sensor-integrated RFID tag 115 in a powered-on state is attached
thereto according to a principle of quality control in the delivery
center. Then, each product is placed in the storage room 130 of the
delivery center 13. In processing at step s001 for indicating
receipt-of-product information in management of individual
products, a product tag ID and a product code are additionally
registered into the individual product information table 216
through the storage administrative terminal 132 of the delivery
center. On completion of the above registration, the server 120
issues a completion-of-registration message to the storage
administrative terminal 132. Then, in processing at step s002,
information acquired through product sensing operations repeated at
predetermined intervals by the sensor (RFID tag) attached to each
product is registered into the receipt-of-product status table 221.
More specifically, a product tag ID code, a temperature value, a
humidity value, an impact value, a packing level, and an indication
of time and date of product sensing are registered into the
receipt-of-product status table 221. Further, in the case of the
first registration of the product concerned, the product status
entry "Received" is registered into the receipt-of-product status
table 221. Alternatively, in the case of the second or subsequent
registration, the product status entry "Ready for shipment" is
registered thereinto. Thus, the registration into the
receipt-of-product status table 221 is completed. On an each-time
basis of completion of the above registration, the server 120
issues a completion-of-registration message to the storage
administrative terminal 132. Regarding a product for which the
product status entry "Ready for shipment" is indicated for the
first time, the product code concerned is acquired from the product
master table 215 by using the product tag ID code thereof as key
information. From the receipt-of-product status table 221, the
delivery center ID code concerned is acquired as delivery center
information. Then, according to the product code and the delivery
center ID code thus acquired, a stock quantity value for each
delivery center and for each product code is registered into the
inventory table 213 for updating inventory data. Further, until a
request for delivery is received, a product sensing operation and
judgment step s003 are repeated. Then, upon receipt of a request
for delivery, a transition is made to the
acceptance-of-delivery-request procedural step s11.
With reference to FIG. 18, the following describes the details of
the acceptance-of-delivery-request procedural step s11. In
processing at step s011, as information regarding a delivery
request from a customer, a customer name, an e-mail address
thereof, a product name or product code corresponding to the
delivery request, and a delivery destination are held for
acceptance in the storage administrative terminal 132. Along with a
customer ID code for customer identification, the customer name and
the e-mail address thereof that have been held for acceptance in
the storage administrative terminal 132 are registered into the
customer master table 214 held in the server 120. At this step of
processing, the above registration is not made if the customer
information concerned has already been registered in the customer
master table 214. Then, in processing at step s012, using the
delivery center ID code concerned and the product code concerned as
key information, a search is performed in the inventory table 213.
In the inventory table 213, the number of products to be delivered
is subtracted from the stock quantity value concerned. In the
receipt-of-product status table 221, a product tag ID code, a
temperature value, a humidity value, an impact value, a packing
level, an indication of time and date of registration, and "In
preparation" as a product status entry are registered. On
completion of the above registration, the server 120 issues a
completion-of-registration message to the storage administrative
terminal 132. Then, a transition is made to the delivery procedural
step s12. At the time of acceptance processing, a delivery center
operator makes reference to the inventory table 213. If it is found
that the product concerned is not in stock, a relevant notification
is sent to the customer to stop the acceptance processing. In this
case, for example, an error message is issued to terminate the
acceptance processing or a prompting message for a retry of input
is issued.
With reference to FIG. 19, the following describes the details of
the delivery procedural step s12. In processing at step s021, a
sort operation is performed for each delivery destination, and
information linkage is set up between each product 116 and a
delivery truck 11 in charge of delivery thereof. From the storage
administrative terminal 132, a product tag ID code, a customer ID
code, a delivery destination, and a truck ID code are registered
into the shipment-of-product information table 222 in the server
120. A delivery center worker carries the product concerned from
the storage room 130 of the delivery center to the storage room 110
of the delivery truck in charge of delivery thereof. At the control
terminal 119 installed in the storage room 110 of the delivery
truck, a sensor-integrated RFID tag 115 attached to the product
concerned is read out through the reader/writer 118 and the antenna
117 so that product sensing information indicating the quality
conditions of the product concerned can be acquired. Further, the
delivery destination concerned is registered into a delivery route
selection system for delivery according to a route indicated
through calculation therein. In processing at step s022,
information regarding a transition of the product concerned from a
received state to a shipment state is registered. In the
receipt-of-product status table 221, a product tag ID code, a
temperature value, a humidity value, an impact value, a packing
level, an indication of time and date of shipment registration, and
"Shipped" as a product status entry are registered. On completion
of the above registration, the server 120 issues a
completion-of-registration to the storage administrative terminal
132. Actual delivery is started according to a specified schedule
so that products will be delivered collectively in certain
quantities as in common practice of logistic operation. Then, a
transition is made to the abnormality judgment procedural step
s13.
With reference to FIG. 20, the following describes the details of
the abnormality judgment procedural step s13 for checking whether
the quality of any product in delivery is abnormal. In processing
at step s031, the quality conditions of each product during actual
delivery service and the current location information indicated
from the deliverer communication terminal 112 are acquired
repeatedly at predetermined intervals. As information regarding the
delivery concerned, a product tag ID code, a temperature value, a
humidity value, an impact value, a delivery state, and an
indication of time and date of product sensing are registered into
the delivery status table 225 held in the server 120. For
indicating the latest location information of the delivery truck,
the current location thereof is registered into the delivery truck
master table 219 so as to update information indicated at the entry
item of current location 462 therein. In processing at step s032,
using a registered product tag ID code as key information, the
server 120 acquires a quality assurance range stored in the product
master table 215, and performs a comparative check against the
product sensing information concerned. If the quality assurance
range is exceeded, the quality conditions at the time point of
quality abnormality detection are registered as new record data
into the delivery status table 225, and also "Abnormal" is
registered in the entry item of delivery state 525 in the delivery
status table 225. Thereafter, regarding the product that has been
detected to be abnormal in quality, product sensing information to
be acquired at predetermined intervals is not registered into the
delivery status table 225. Data entries indicated at the time point
of quality abnormality detection, including the product tag ID
code, temperature value, humidity value, impact value, delivery
state, time and date of product sensing, and current location, are
held in the memory 211. In contrast, when the quality assurance
range is not exceeded, a completion-of-registration message
regarding product sensing information during delivery is issued to
the control terminal 119 of the delivery truck concerned.
In the branching procedural step s14, a branching operation is
performed according to the result of quality abnormality judgment.
If a quality abnormality is detected, a transition is made to the
preparation-for-redelivery procedural step s15 to be described in
detail below. If no quality abnormality is detected, a transition
is made to the branching procedural step s17 wherein judgment is
made on whether the product concerned has arrived at the delivery
destination thereof, which will be described in detail later.
With reference to FIG. 21, the following describes the details of
the preparation-for-redelivery procedural step s15 wherein, as a
countermeasure against a detected quality abnormality, a redelivery
process less susceptible to recurrence of a similar quality
abnormality is selected.
In the processing flow of the preparation-for-redelivery procedural
step s15, there are included an inventory check step s151, a
product/delivery truck storage room selection step s152, a delivery
truck/delivery center selection step s154, and a redelivery route
selection step s155. In the inventory check step s151, it is judged
whether a replacement product is available or not. In the
product/delivery truck storage room selection step s152, a
replacement product for redelivery is selected from stock as
required, and a proper delivery truck storage room is selected
which is capable of setting conditions satisfying the quality
assurance ranges specified for the product concerned. In the
delivery truck/delivery center selection step s154, an optimal
combination of a proper delivery truck available and a proper
delivery center is selected. In the redelivery route selection step
s155, an optimal route for redelivery is selected. The details of
these steps are described below. Thereafter, a transition is made
to the redelivery procedural step s16. The
preparation-for-redelivery procedural step s15 and the redelivery
procedural step s16 are performed in the event that a quality
abnormality is recognized in abnormality judgment.
The following describes the details of the inventory check step
s151 in the processing of preparation for redelivery.
As shown in FIG. 22, step s100 is performed on detection of a
quality abnormality in a product during delivery. At step s100,
using key information containing a product tag ID code of the
product that has been detected to be abnormal in quality, the
server 120 searches the individual product information table 216 to
acquire a product code of a replacement product for redelivery
processing. Then, at step s101, using the product code thus
acquired as key information, the server 120 searches the inventory
table 213 to check whether the product concerned is in stock or
not. Further, through comparative checking between a time period to
be taken for preparation for product redelivery and a time period
of operating hours of each delivery center, it is checked whether
any proper delivery center in operation is selectable. At step
s102, a conditional branching operation is performed according to
the stock quantity concerned.
The conditional branching operation at step s102 is described
below. In a case where the stock quantity value is "zero", a
transition is made to step s105. In a case where the stock quantity
value is "1", a transition is made to step s103. In a case where
the stock quantity value is at least "2", a transition is made to
step s152-A (product/delivery truck storage room selection step)
for selecting a replacement product for redelivery, a proper
delivery center, and a proper delivery truck storage room. In
processing at step s103, a replacement product for redelivery and a
proper delivery center are determined, and a product decision flag
and a delivery center decision flag are set up. Then, a transition
is made to step s152-B (product/delivery truck storage room
selection step) for selecting a proper delivery truck storage room.
In processing at step s105, the unavailability of a proper
replacement product for redelivery is indicated, and the subsequent
preparation-for-redelivery processing is not performed. Further, in
this case, as additional information regarding the product
concerned, "Not redelivered" is registered in the entry item of
delivery state 525 of the delivery status table 225. In addition,
relevant e-mail messages to be described later are issued, and the
preparation-for-redelivery processing is terminated.
For example, in a situation where a product corresponding to the
entry item of product tag ID 520 "3241BAE134328" in the delivery
status table 225 is judged to be abnormal in quality, a search is
performed in the individual product information table 216 by using
"3241BAE134328" as key information. Thus, the product code
"49442423" can be acquired. Then, using the product code "49442423"
thus acquired as key information, a search is performed in the
inventory table 213. In the result of the above search, it is found
that a stock quantity value of "1" is indicated for each of the
delivery center ID codes "C-0001" and "C-0002", i.e., a total stock
quantity value of "2" is acquired. Through examination of the time
of quality abnormality detection "17:23" indicated in the delivery
status table 225 with reference to the entry item of operating
hours 443 in the delivery center master table 217, it is judged
that the periods of operating hours of the delivery centers
concerned are adequate for this case. That is, it is judged that
the delivery centers concerned are selectable as candidates for
redelivery.
Then, the following describes the product/delivery truck storage
room selection step s152 for selecting a replacement product and a
proper delivery truck storage room in the processing of preparation
for redelivery.
As shown in FIG. 23, a selection of a replacement product is made
at step s1521, and a selection of a delivery truck storage room is
made at step s1522. In a case where there is a replacement product
available for redelivery, these steps s1521 and s1522 are carried
out in parallel processing for enhancement in the efficiency of
product selection and delivery truck storage room selection. At
step s200 for the start of parallel processing, in case of
detection of plural quality abnormalities, each process is started
up for execution of plural preparation-for-redelivery processing
operations. In execution of step s1521, for higher efficiency in
searching for a replacement product for redelivery, product sensing
information indicated at the time point of quality abnormality
detection is acquired, and in the receipt-of-product status table
221, products having "Ready for shipment" indicated at the entry
item of product status 487 are sorted in reverse chronological
order of time and date entries 486. At step s201, product sensing
item information and sensing value data at the time point of
quality abnormality detection are acquired. Using product code data
acquired at the inventory check step s151 and the individual
product information table 216, a search is performed for a product
code of the product concerned. With respect to product tag ID data
excluding the product tag ID code corresponding to the detected
quality abnormality, the sensing item is used as key information in
acquisition of quality assurance ranges of the product concerned
from the product master table 215. Then, at step s202, a branching
operation is performed according to the sensing item corresponding
to the detected quality abnormality. In a case where the sensing
item corresponding to the detected quality abnormality is
"temperature/humidity", a branch is made to step s203 to select a
stock product that satisfies the relevant quality assurance ranges
specified for the damaged product and that has the largest quality
condition difference from the detected abnormal quality value
concerned. In a case where the sensing item corresponding to the
detected quality abnormality is "impact", a branch is made to step
s204 to select a stock product that satisfies the relevant quality
assurance ranges specified for the damaged product and that has the
highest packing level. Then, at step s205, it is judged whether
only one proper product can be determined uniquely. If plural
candidate stock products are not involved, the product and delivery
center decision flags are set up.
In execution of step s1522, a delivery truck storage room is
selected. At step s301, the quality assurance ranges 423, 424, and
425 corresponding to the sensing items of the replacement product
for redelivery are compared with the delivery truck storage room
specifications 472, 473, and 474. In this comparison, a selection
of a delivery truck storage room is made through judgment on
whether the upper limit value of each quality assurance range of
the product concerned exceeds the corresponding upper specification
limit value of the delivery truck storage room and whether the
lower limit value of each quality assurance range of the product
concerned exceeds the corresponding lower specification limit value
of the delivery truck storage room. Then, at step s302, with
respect to the temperature, humidity, and impact specifications of
the delivery truck storage room selected at step s301, storage room
sensor data and quality assurance range data of the product for
redelivery are acquired. Through comparison between the storage
room specifications and the storage room sensor data, it is checked
whether the storage room is operating normally. If the storage
sensor data (storage sensing information) is within the specified
ranges, the storage room is judged to be operating normally. Thus,
the storage room (delivery truck) satisfying the quality assurance
ranges of the product for redelivery is selected. At step s303, it
is judged whether only one proper delivery truck storage room can
be determined uniquely. If the number of candidate delivery trucks
(candidate storage rooms) is "1", a truck decision flag is set up
at step s304. If the number of candidate delivery trucks is "zero",
the unavailability of a proper delivery truck is indicated at step
s305, i.e., "Not redelivered" is issued, and the subsequent
preparation-for-redelivery processing is not performed. In this
case, as additional information regarding the product concerned,
"Not redelivered" is registered in the entry item of delivery state
525 of the delivery status table 225. In addition, relevant e-mail
messages to be described later are issued, and the
preparation-for-redelivery processing is terminated. If the number
of candidate delivery trucks is "2" or more, the truck decision
flag is not set up.
After execution of steps s1521 and s1522, the conditions of the
decision flags are checked at step s307. If all the flags are set
up, a transition is made to the redelivery route selection step
s155. If at least one of these flags is not set up, a transition is
made to the delivery truck/delivery center selection step s154.
While parallel processing is performed for product selection and
delivery truck storage room selection in the example demonstrated
above, it is not necessarily required to implement the parallel
processing in an application where emphasis is not placed on
enhancement in the efficiency of processing because of such a
principle that priority is given to facilitation of system
development. For implementation of the parallel processing, there
may be provided an arrangement that process numbers for
synchronization are assigned to product selection and delivery
truck storage room selection at the start of the parallel
processing so as to ensure associative relationship therebetween.
It is to be noted, however, that this arrangement is illustrative
only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present
invention.
In the example demonstrated above, a selection of a delivery truck
storage room is made through judgment on whether the upper limit
value of each quality assurance range of the product concerned
exceeds the corresponding upper specification limit value of the
delivery truck storage room and whether the lower limit value of
each quality assurance range of the product concerned exceeds the
corresponding lower specification limit value of the delivery truck
storage room. However, in a situation where a quality assurance
range of a product is relatively wide, it is presumed that a
quality abnormality may not occur during delivery even under an
out-of-specification condition, i.e., the above judgment may not be
necessarily required. Depending on a principle of quality control
in the delivery center concerned, judgment regarding the
specifications of each delivery truck storage room may not be
performed for reduction in delivery cost.
Described below is an exemplary situation where the product code is
"49442423", the delivery center ID codes are "C-0001" and "C-0002",
the stock quantity value is "2", and the sensing item corresponding
to a detected quality abnormality is "temperature". For product
selection, the product master table 215 is searched by using the
product code "49442423" as key information, and the quality
assurance temperature range "-30-0" is acquired from the product
master table 215. Through judgment on the sensing item
corresponding to the quality abnormality detected, a branch is made
to "temperature". In the individual product information table 216,
a search is performed for the product code "49442423". Thus, with
the exclusion of the product tag ID code "3241BAE134328", the
product tag ID codes "3241BAE134325" and "3241BAE134326" are
acquired. Using the thus acquired product tag ID codes
"3241BAE134325" and "3241BAE134326", a search is performed in the
receipt-of-product status table 221. Through this search, it is
found that the product status 487 is "shipment allowable" for both
the product tag ID codes "3241BAE134325" and "3241BAE134326", and
the sensing item of temperature 482 is "-10" for both the product
tag ID codes "3241BAE134325" and "3241BAE134326". In comparative
checking against the quality assurance temperature range "-30-0",
it is judged that the sensing item of temperature 482 indicating
"-10" is within the quality assurance temperature range. With
respect to an abnormal temperature level of "30" for example (i.e.,
the quality abnormality detected), the number of candidate stock
products is counted on the basis of the largest quality condition
difference from the detected abnormal quality value concerned.
Thus, it is found that there are plural candidate stock products.
Hence, the product and delivery center decision flags are not set
up, and the relevant synchronization is performed.
Then, for selection of a delivery truck storage room in execution
of parallel processing, the delivery truck storage room
specification master table 220 is examined. By searching the
sensing item column of temperature 472 therein, the following
temperature specifications are acquired: "-30-1" in the temperature
specification of the storage room 1 of "T-0001", "0-30" in the
temperature specification of the storage room 2 of "T-0001", and
"-40-0" in the temperature specification of the storage room 1 of
"T-0002". The product master table 215 is checked with respect to
the product code "494-42423". Thus, the quality assurance
temperature range "-30-0" is acquired from the item of quality
assurance temperature range 423. In comparative checking on the
storage room 1 of "T-0001", it is found that the upper limit value
"0" of the quality assurance temperature range of the product is
equal to or higher than the upper limit value "0" of the
temperature specification of the storage room, and that the lower
limit value "-30" of the quality assurance temperature range of the
product is equal to or lower than the lower limit value "-30" of
the temperature specification of the storage room. Hence, the
requirements are satisfied in the use of the storage room 1 of
"T-0001". In comparative checking on the storage room 2 of
"T-0001", it is found that the upper limit value "0" of the quality
assurance temperature range of the product is equal to or lower
than the upper limit value "30" of the temperature specification of
the storage room, and that the lower limit value "-30" of the
quality assurance temperature range of the product is equal to or
higher than the lower limit value "0" of the temperature
specification of the storage room. Hence, the requirements are not
satisfied in the use of the storage room 2 of "T-0001". In
comparative checking on the storage room 1 of "T-0002", it is found
that the upper limit value "0" of the quality assurance temperature
range of the product is equal to or higher than the upper limit
value "0" of the temperature specification of the storage room, and
that the lower limit value "-30" of the quality assurance
temperature range of the product is equal to or higher than the
lower limit value "-40" of the temperature specification of the
storage room. Hence, the requirements are not satisfied in the use
of the storage room 1 of "T-0002". In the same manner, the sensing
item columns of humidity 473 and impact 474 in the delivery truck
storage specification master table 220 are checked through
comparison with the corresponding quality assurance ranges of the
product for redelivery. Thus, it is determined to use the storage
room 1 of the delivery truck "T-0001" which has specifications
capable of satisfying the quality assurance ranges of the product
for redelivery. To check whether the storage room concerned is
operating normally, the delivery truck storage room status table
224 is searched for the truck ID code "T-0001". Base on the latest
time and date indication, "-10" at the sensing item of temperature
512, "40" at the sensing item of humidity 513, and "0.1" at the
sensing item of impact are acquired with respect to the storage
room 1 of "T-0001". These values thus acquired are compared with
the temperature specification range "-30-0", humidity specification
range "30-60", and impact specification range "0-1" of the storage
room 1 of the delivery truck concerned. Thus, it is judged that the
storage room concerned is operating normally since each of the
current sensing information of the storage room is within the range
specified therefor, i.e., it is determined to use the delivery
truck "T-0001". Then, since the number of candidate delivery trucks
(candidate storage rooms) is "1", the truck decision flag is set
up.
In the result of synchronization of the product selection and the
delivery truck storage room selection mentioned above, it is found
that not all of the product, delivery center, and truck decision
flags are set up. Hence, a transition is made to the delivery
truck/delivery center selection step s154.
Then, the following describes the details of the delivery
truck/delivery center selection step s154. As shown in FIG. 24, the
processing described below is carried out in a case where plural
candidate products for redelivery are stored in plural delivery
centers, in a case where plural candidate delivery trucks
applicable to redelivery are available, or in a case of combination
of both the above cases.
At step s401, by using key information containing delivery truck ID
codes of all the candidate delivery trucks selected in the
processing of product/delivery truck storage room selection, the
delivery truck master table 219 is searched to acquire the current
locations of the candidate delivery trucks. Further, by using key
information containing delivery center ID codes of all the delivery
centers, the delivery center master table 217 is searched to
acquire the addresses of the candidate delivery centers. Then, at
step s402, in round-robin combinations of the acquired current
locations of the candidate delivery trucks and the addresses of the
candidate delivery centers, the shortest time length predictable
for a delivery truck to arrive at a delivery center is calculated
through use of the deliverer communication terminal 112 equipped
with a delivery route selection system such as a car navigation
system. Thereafter, at step s403, an optimal combination of a
delivery truck and a delivery center is determined. If plural the
shortest time lengths are found, a combination corresponding to the
result of the first calculation is selected.
While an optimal combination of a delivery truck and a delivery
center is determined by prioritizing the shortest time length
predictable for a delivery truck to arrive at a delivery center in
the example demonstrated above, there may also be provided an
arrangement that an optimal combination of a delivery truck and a
delivery center is determined according to the shortest total time
length predictable in an overall delivery routing scheme wherein,
after arriving at a delivery center, a delivery truck loaded with
relevant products is run to each destination.
Described below is an exemplary situation where the delivery truck
master table 219 is searched by using the truck ID code "T-0001" as
key information, and the current location entry 462 "Totsuka Y,
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture" is acquired. In this situation, by
using key information containing the candidate delivery center ID
codes "C-0001" and "C-0002" that have been acquired in the
product/delivery truck storage room selection step s152, the
delivery center master table 217 is searched to acquire the address
entries 422 "Totsuka F, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture" and "Totsuka
G, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture". Through use of the delivery
route selection system, it is found that it will take 10 minutes
for the delivery truck "T-0001" to arrive at the delivery center
"C-0001" and that it will take 20 minutes for the delivery truck
"T-0001" to arrive at the delivery center "C-0002". Hence, an
optimal combination of the delivery truck "T-0001" and the delivery
center "C-0001" is determined.
Then, the following describes the details of the redelivery route
selection step s155.
As shown in FIG. 25, at step s501, the current location indicated
at the time point of quality abnormality detection, which has been
held in the memory 211 at s032, is acquired as location information
corresponding to the detected quality abnormality concerned. Then,
at step s502, through use of the delivery route selection system
mentioned in the description of the delivery truck/delivery center
selection processing, a redelivery route calculation is performed
under the preset condition that the location corresponding to the
detected quality abnormality should be circumvented in redelivery
routing from the delivery center where the product for redelivery
is stored. At step s503, a shortest-time redelivery route to the
destination concerned is determined. Then, the inventory table 213
is searched by using key information containing the delivery center
ID code of the delivery center for redelivery and the product code
of the product for redelivery, and the number of products to be
delivered is subtracted from the stock quantity value of the record
data concerned. Lastly, at step s504, as information indicating the
use for redelivery in the receipt-of-product status table 221, "In
preparation" is additionally registered into the entry item of
product status 487 of the record data of the product for
redelivery. In addition, relevant e-mail messages to be described
later are issued automatically, and the redelivery route selection
processing is terminated.
For example, as location information corresponding to the detected
quality abnormality concerned, Totsuka A, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Prefecture" is acquired based on the current location information
indicated at the time point of quality abnormality detection, which
has been held in the memory 211. Then, through use of the delivery
route selection system, a redelivery route calculation is performed
to determine a shortest-time redelivery route to the destination
"Totsuka F, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture" under the preset
condition that the location corresponding to the detected quality
abnormality "Totsuka A, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture" should be
circumvented in redelivery routing. At the last step of the
redelivery route selection processing, to record the completion
thereof in the receipt-of-product status table 221, "In
preparation" is additionally registered into the entry item of
product status 487 of the record data of the product for
redelivery. Then, the redelivery route selection processing is
terminated. Since "In preparation" is additionally indicated in the
entry item of product status 487 of the receipt-of-product status
table 221, the stock product concerned is reserved to prevent
duplicate assignment thereof to a case of detection of another
quality abnormality while the delivery truck is traveling to the
delivery center for receiving the stock product for redelivery
thereof.
Then, the following describes the details of automatic reporting by
e-mail messages in the preparation-for-redelivery processing.
In a case where the redelivery of the product concerned is
determined through the preparation-for-redelivery processing,
e-mail messages are automatically issued to the customer, delivery
truck, and the delivery center. The customer concerned is notified
automatically by e-mail that the replacement product will be
redelivered due to detection of a quality abnormality in the
delivery operation. The delivery truck carrying the product that
has been detected to be abnormal in quality is notified
automatically by e-mail that the abnormal product detected and
information thereof should not be handed over to the recipient
concerned at the destination. Further, the delivery center in
charge of redelivery of the replacement product is notified
automatically by e-mail of a request for redelivery along with
redelivery information including the product tag ID code of the
replacement product, the product code thereof, and the delivery
truck to be used for redelivery.
In a case where no stock product available for redelivery is found
in product selection of the preparation-for-redelivery processing,
the customer concerned is notified automatically by e-mail that no
stock product for redelivery is available at present in an attempt
of replacement due to detection of a quality abnormality in the
delivery operation, and the delivery truck carrying the product
that has been detected to be abnormal in quality is notified
automatically by e-mail that the abnormal product detected and
information thereof should not be handed over to the recipient
concerned at the destination.
In a case where no proper delivery truck storage room available for
redelivery is found in delivery truck storage room selection of the
preparation-for-delivery processing, the customer concerned is
notified automatically by e-mail that a stock product is not
redeliverable at present in an attempt of replacement due to
detection of a quality abnormality in the delivery operation, and
the delivery truck carrying the product that has been detected to
be abnormal in quality is notified automatically by e-mail that the
abnormal product detected and information thereof should not be
handed over to the recipient concerned at the destination.
With reference to FIG. 26, the following describes the details of
the redelivery procedural step s16 to be taken under redelivery
conditions selected in the preparation-for-redelivery procedural
step s15. At step s041, to the delivery truck 11 in charge of
redelivery, the server 120 automatically transmits an e-mail
message that indicates a request for redelivery, a delivery center
13 having the stock product for redelivery, an address thereof, and
a product tag ID code of the stock product for redelivery. When the
delivery truck in charge of redelivery arrives at the delivery
center, a handover request for the stock product concerned is made
to delivery center personnel according to the redelivery request
information indicated in the e-mail message received by the
delivery truck. Then, at step s042, the delivery center registers
information regarding the stock product for redelivery into the
shipment-of-product information table 222. On completion of the
registration, the stock product concerned is handed over to the
delivery truck. Thus, the delivery truck proceeds to actual
redelivery service. Thereafter, during redelivery, the abnormality
judgment procedural step s13 is repeated constantly.
Then, the following describes the details of the branching
procedural step s17 shown in FIG. 16. At the branching procedural
step s17, when the delivery truck arrives at the delivery
destination, an announcement regarding the arrival thereof is
provided through the delivery route selection system. Then, a
transition is made to the arrival-of-product procedural step s18.
If the announcement is not provided, a transition is made to the
abnormality judgment procedural step s13. The transition to step
s13 is repeated until the announcement is provided.
With reference to FIG. 27, the following describes the details of
the arrival-of-product procedural step s18. When the delivery truck
arrives at the delivery destination without detecting any quality
abnormality in the product concerned during the course of delivery,
the product concerned is handed over to the recipient. At the time
of acknowledgment of handover at the delivery destination, the
sensor-integrated RFID tag is removed from the product concerned
for collection thereof. Through the deliverer communication
terminal, arrival-of-product information regarding the product
concerned is sent to the server 120. Then, the server 120 enters
relevant data into the delivery status table 225 according to the
product tag ID code, product sensing information, delivery state
("Arrived"), and time and date of completion of delivery. Thus, a
task of delivery to one destination is completed (step s051).
In the case of redelivery through execution of the processing
operations described above, a stock product is selected on the
basis of product sensing information indicating the largest quality
condition difference from the detected abnormal quality value
concerned. Thus, the likelihood of recurrence of a similar quality
abnormality can be reduced. Further, since quality conditions of
products in a delivery truck storage room are checked constantly, a
preventive countermeasure can be readily taken against the
occurrence of a quality abnormality due to a failure in quality
assurance operation of the storage room. Still further, a delivery
route where a quality abnormality has been detected in the first
delivery operation is circumvented at the time of redelivery, e.g.,
an unpaved road route that has applied a significant level of
impact to products in the first delivery operation is circumvented
at the time of redelivery. Thus, it is possible to reduce the
likelihood of recurrence of a similar quality abnormality.
Regarding the product selection processing at step s1521 described
above, the following presents how to implement higher-speed
operations therein.
Based on quality abnormality history information acquired in the
past, a quality abnormality tendency is figured out with respect to
each sensing item corresponding to each product code. Then, stock
product data is sorted in relation to each abnormality-prone
sensing item corresponding to each product code. By using the stock
product data thus sorted, it is possible to carry out product
selection at higher speed.
Described below is a specific example of processing for
higher-speed product selection.
In the processing demonstrated here, differently from the case of
the foregoing preferred embodiment, a step s2103 to be mentioned
below is performed in lieu of the aforementioned step s203 for
stock product selection. Further, as preconditions therefor, a step
s2100 to be mentioned below is added to the aforementioned step
s002 for receipt-of-product processing, and steps s2101 and s2102
to be mentioned below are added to the aforementioned step 5032 for
abnormality judgment processing. In the product master table 215
stored in the database 230, an additional column is provided, and a
quality abnormality history table 226 shown in FIG. 28 and a
receipt-of-product status view 228 shown in FIG. 29 are used to
implement higher-speed product selection. To be more specific, the
product master table 215 is expanded to include a new additional
column for "Quality abnormality item".
The quality abnormality history table 226 is stored into the
database 230 held in the server 120 of the data center 12 similarly
to the other data tables. The quality abnormality history table 226
contains the following entry items: a product tag ID 530
corresponding to an RFID tag 115 attached to each product that has
encountered a quality abnormality, a product code 531 of each
product concerned, temperature 532, humidity 533, impact 534
(sensing items indicated at the time of quality abnormality
detection), an abnormality item 535, and an abnormality condition
536. The receipt-of-product status view 228 is a database view
arranged as a combination of the receipt-of-product status table
221 and the individual product information table 216. Hence, the
receipt-of-product status view 228 may be virtually created in the
memory 221 or may be created as a data table stored in the database
230. The receipt-of-product status view 228 contains the following
entry items: a product tag ID 550, a product code 551 for linkage
with each product tag ID code, a delivery center ID 552,
temperature 553, humidity 554, impact 555, a packing level 556,
time and date 557, and a product status 558.
Then, the following describes the details of each processing
operation.
At step s2100, in synchronous timing with registration into the
receipt-of-product status table 221, product sensing information
acquired through product sensing operations repeated at step s002
is registered into the receipt-of-product status view 228 with
respect to products indicating the product status entry 487 "Ready
for shipment" in the receipt-of-product status table 221. Thus,
data entries are provided into the entry items of product tag ID
550, product code 551 for linkage with each product tag ID code,
delivery center ID 552, temperature 553, humidity 554, impact 555,
packing level 556, time and date 557, and product status 558 in the
receipt-of-product status view 228. If any record data
corresponding to a product tag ID code to be registered has already
been contained in the receipt-of-product status view 228, the
record data is updated according to the product tag ID code
concerned.
At step s2101, in case of detection of a quality abnormality at
step s032, quality abnormality record data is registered into the
quality abnormality history table 226 in synchronous timing with
registration thereof into the delivery status table 225. A product
tag ID code corresponding to the quality abnormality detected at
step s032 is registered into the entry item of product tag ID 530,
and a product code 431 acquired from the individual product
information table 216 by using the product tag ID code concerned as
key information is registered into the entry item of product code
531. The temperature value 522, humidity value 523, and impact
value 524 indicated at the time of quality abnormality detection
are registered into the entry items of temperature 532, humidity
533, and impact 534 of the quality abnormality history table 226.
The sensing item corresponding to the detected quality abnormality
is registered into the abnormality item 535 of the quality
abnormality history table 226. Through comparative checking between
the sensing item value concerned and the relevant quality assurance
range indicated in the product master table 215, it is judged
whether the upper limit value or the lower limit value is exceeded.
The result of this judgment is registered into the entry item of
abnormality condition 536. Then, based on the abnormality item 535
and the abnormality condition 536 indicated in the quality
abnormality history table 226, a quality abnormality tendency is
figured out by examining each sensing item corresponding to each
product code for quality abnormalities and by counting the number
of quality abnormalities in terms of excess beyond the upper/lower
limit value of the quality assurance range concerned. Thus, each
abnormality-prone sensing item can be determined on a majority
basis. In this processing, as information regarding the quality
abnormality tendency, an indication such as "Temperature upper
limit exceeded" is registered into record data corresponding to the
product code concerned at the additional column "Quality
abnormality item" included in the product master table 215. It is
to be noted that the additional column included in the product
master table 215 may be divided into "Abnormality item" and
"Abnormality condition" in a fashion similar to the arrangement of
the quality abnormality history table 226.
At step s2102, after completion of the above registration at step
s2101, the receipt-of-product status view 228 is subjected to sort
processing. In the receipt-of-product status view 228, a sort is
performed according to identical product codes. Further, with
respect to the column of the abnormality-prone sensing item
determined as mentioned above, an ascending sort is performed in
the case of excess beyond the upper limit value of the quality
assurance range concerned, or a descending sort is performed in the
case of excess beyond the lower limit value thereof. Even if there
are plural products having the same sensing item value, it is not
necessary to sort the plural products. In the example demonstrated
here, the products having the same sensing item value are sorted in
ascending order of product tag ID codes. In a case where the
sensing item of impact is judged to be an abnormality-prone sensing
item, a descending sort is performed in the column of packing level
556 since lower limit data is insignificant for quality
assurance.
For example, in the quality abnormality history table 226 shown in
FIG. 28, with respect to the product code 531 "4933333", there are
four classified combinations of "Temperature" at the abnormality
item 535 and "Upper limit exceeded" at the abnormality condition
536. Since the number of these classified combinations is the
largest in comparison with other classified combinations, a quality
abnormality tendency of the product concerned is judged to be a
combination of "Temperature" and "Upper limit exceeded". As
information regarding this quality abnormality tendency,
"Temperature upper limit exceeded" is registered into record data
corresponding to the product code concerned at the additional
column "Quality abnormality item" included in the product master
table 215. FIG. 29 shows the receipt-of-product status view 228
that has been sorted by using "Temperature upper limit exceeded" as
key information.
The following describes the step s2103 for stock product selection
to be performed in lieu of the aforementioned step s203.
At step s2103 for stock product selection, in case of detection of
a quality abnormality, a combination of the sensing item
corresponding to the detected quality abnormality concerned and a
condition of excess beyond the upper/loser limit value of the
quality assurance range concerned is compared with data entries in
the additional column "Quality abnormality item" included in the
product master table 215. If the combination meets the quality
abnormality tendency indicated in the additional column "Quality
abnormality item" of the product master table 215, the top record
data in the sorted receipt-of-product status view 228 shown in FIG.
29 is specified to select a stock product for redelivery. If the
combination does not meet the quality abnormality tendency
indicated in the additional column "Quality abnormality item" of
the product master table 215, a stock product for redelivery is
selected through entire record data searching comparison on the
basis of product sensing information indicating the largest quality
condition difference from the detected abnormal quality value
concerned in the same manner as in stock product selection
processing at step s203. Then, the record data corresponding to the
selected product tag ID code is removed from the receipt-of-product
status view 228.
For example, in a situation where the product code "4933333" of the
stock product for redelivery corresponds to "Temperature upper
limit exceeded" in the additional column "Quality abnormality item"
included in the product master table 215 and where the detected
quality abnormality is "Temperature upper limit exceeded", a stock
product is selected according to the product tag ID 550
"3241BAE134667" indicated in the top record data in the
receipt-of-product status view 228 sorted on each product tag ID
code (shown in FIG. 29).
While, in the aforementioned step s203 for stock product selection,
the receipt-of-product status table is applied to select a stock
product for redelivery through entire record data searching
comparison on the basis of product sensing information indicating
the largest quality condition difference from the detected abnormal
quality value concerned, the processing operations demonstrated
here are performed in a fashion that a quality abnormality tendency
is figured out with respect to each sensing item corresponding to
each product code on the basis of quality abnormality history
information acquired in the past, and then stock product data is
sorted in relation to each abnormality-prone sensing item
corresponding to each product code in the receipt-of-product status
view. Thus, on detection of a quality abnormality, it is checked
whether there is a match with abnormality-prone sensing data
prepared as mentioned above. Hence, just one search operation is
required for stock product selection, making it possible to realize
higher-speed product selection.
In the stock product selection processing described in the
foregoing, each stock product for redelivery is selected on the
basis of product sensing information indicating the largest quality
condition difference from the detected abnormal quality value with
respect to the quality assurance range concerned. The following
describes another procedure for stock product selection for
redelivery to be taken to further reduce the likelihood of
recurrence of a similar quality abnormality at the time of
redelivery.
At the aforementioned step s1521, a stock product selection for
redelivery is performed based on just one immediately preceding
case of a quality abnormality. Hence, in a situation where a stock
product having a quality condition value in the vicinity of the
upper level of the quality assurance range concerned is selected in
the event of detection of a quality abnormality exceeding the lower
limit thereof, it is presumable that the upper limit may be
exceeded during redelivery. Further, in a situation where a stock
product having a quality condition value in the vicinity of the
lower limit of the quality assurance range concerned is selected in
the event of detection of a quality abnormality exceeding the upper
limit thereof, it is also presumable that the lower limit may be
exceeded during redelivery. In consideration of these situations, a
quality condition value having a tendency to nonoccurrence of a
quality abnormality with respect to each product code is calculated
by using history data regarding temperature, humidity, and impact
values indicated at the time of shipment of products delivered to
destinations without occurrence of a quality abnormality, and a
stock product is selected according to approximation of the quality
condition value thus calculated. This makes it possible to select a
stock product less susceptible to recurrence of a similar quality
abnormality at the time of redelivery.
Described below is a specific example of other processing for stock
product selection.
In the processing demonstrated here, differently from the case of
the foregoing preferred embodiment, a step s2203 to be mentioned
below is performed in lieu of the aforementioned step s203 for
stock product selection. Further, as preconditions therefor, a step
s2200 to be mentioned below is added to the aforementioned step
s002 for receipt-of-product processing, a step s2201 to be
mentioned later is added in lieu of the aforementioned steps s2101
and s2102 to the step s032 for abnormality judgment processing, and
a step s2202 is added to the step s051 for arrival-of-product
processing. In the product master table 215 stored in the database
230, additional columns are provided. For implementing stock
product selection, a receipt-of-product status view 229 shown in
FIG. 31 is used in lieu of the aforementioned receipt-of-product
status view 228, in combination with the arrival-of-product history
table 227 shown in FIG. 30. To be more specific regarding the
additional columns, the product master table 215 is expanded to
include new additional columns for "Average temperature", "Average
humidity", and "Average impact" in addition to the aforementioned
additional column "Quality abnormality item". The
arrival-of-product history table 227 is stored into the database
230 held in the server 120 of the data center 12 similarly to the
other data tables. The arrival-of-product history table 227
contains the following entry items: a product tag ID 540
corresponding to an RFID tag 115 attached to each product that has
arrived at the destination concerned without incurring any quality
abnormality, a product code 541 for linkage with the product
concerned, and temperature 542, humidity 543, and impact 544 that
are sensing items indicated at the time of shipment of the product
concerned from the delivery center.
Then, the following describes the details of each processing
operation.
At step s2200, in synchronous timing with registration into the
receipt-of-product status table 221, product sensing information
acquired through product sensing operations repeated at step s002
is registered into the receipt-of-product status view 229 with
respect to products indicating the product status 487 "Ready for
shipment" in the receipt-of-product status table 221. Thus, data
entries are provided into the entry items of product tag ID 550,
product code 551 for linkage with each product tag ID code,
delivery center ID 552, temperature 553, humidity 554, impact 555,
packing level 556, time and date 557, and product status 558 in the
receipt-of-product status view 229. If any record data
corresponding to a product tag ID code to be registered has already
been contained in the receipt-of-product view 229, the record data
is updated according to the product tag ID code concerned.
At step s2201, every time a quality abnormality is detected at step
s032, a quality abnormality tendency is figured out in the same
manner as in the aforementioned step s2101. Regarding record data
of the product code corresponding to the detected quality
abnormality, relevant registration is made in the quality
abnormality history table 226. Further, the additional column
"Quality abnormality item" included in the product master table 215
is updated.
At step s2202, relevant information is registered, in synchronous
timing with registration of arrival-of-product information, into
the delivery status table 225 in step s051 for arrival-for-product
processing. When the product concerned arrives at the destination
thereof in step s051 for arrival-of-product processing, the product
tag ID code of the product concerned is acquired. Further, by using
the product tag ID code and the product status 487 "Shipped" as key
information, the receipt-of-product status table 221 is searched to
acquire product sensing information 482, 483, and 484 indicated at
the time of shipment of the product that has arrived at the
destination. The product sensing information is registered into the
entry items of temperature 542, humidity 543, and impact 544. Then,
for each product code 541, an average value is calculated with
respect to each of the entry items of temperature, humidity, and
impact. The average value thus calculated is treated as a value
representing a condition that is less susceptible to occurrence of
a quality abnormality in each of the quality assurance ranges
concerned. Then, in "Average temperature", "Average humidity", and
"Average impact" of the expanded product master table 215, the
average values at the time of shipment of the products indicated as
"Arrived" in the history data are registered with respect to the
record data corresponding to the product code concerned. Then, the
receipt-of-product status view 229 is sorted for each identical
product code. Further, an abnormality-prone sensing item is
extracted from the column "Quality abnormality item" of record data
of the product code concerned indicated in the expanded product
master table 215. For example, in the case of "Temperature upper
limit exceeded", the sensing item "Temperature" is extracted as an
abnormality-prone sensing item. Then, from "Average temperature",
"Average humidity", and "Average impact" of the product master
table 215, a sensing item corresponding to the extracted sensing
item is acquired. That is, in the case of "Temperature", a value of
"Average temperature" is selected. Then, based on the value thus
selected, record data of the product concerned is sorted in the
receipt-of-product status view 229. In this sorting, a difference
between the selected value and each sensing item value (each
temperature value 553 in the case of the abnormality-prone sensing
item "Temperature") is used. A sort operation is performed in
ascending order of differences. In a case where the sensing item of
impact is extracted as an abnormality-prone sensing item, a
descending sort is performed in the column of packing level 556
since lower limit data is insignificant for quality assurance. On
an each-time basis of product arrival in step s051 for
arrival-of-product processing, the processing step s2202 is
performed. Thus, the receipt-of-product status view 229 is updated,
an average value of the abnormality-prone sensing item is
recalculated, and relevant record is sorted again as mentioned
above.
For example, through an averaging calculation on temperature
history data 542 indicated at the time of shipment for the product
code 541 "4933333", the average temperature value "-4" is obtained.
In the column "Average temperature" of the product master table
215, this value is registered as record data corresponding to the
product code "4933333". For "Average humidity" and "Average
impact", an averaging calculation and a registration operation are
performed in a similar manner. The receipt-of-product view 229
shown in FIG. 31 contains data that has been sorted on the average
temperature value "-4" with respect to temperature data 553.
The following describes the processing step 2203 that is performed
in lieu of the aforementioned step s203 for stock product
selection.
In stock product selection on detection of a quality abnormality,
the sensing item corresponding to the detected quality abnormality
is acquired, and the additional column "Quality abnormality"
included in the product master table 215 is checked for
combinational comparison therewith. If a match is found with an
abnormality-prone sensing item indicated in the additional column
"Quality abnormality item", the top record data in the sorted
receipt-of-product status view 229 is specified to select a stock
product for redelivery. It is to be noted, however, that if a match
is found with other than an abnormality-prone sensing item
indicated in the additional column "Quality abnormality item", a
stock product for redelivery is selected through entire record data
searching comparison on the basis of product sensing information
indicating the largest quality condition difference from the
detected abnormal quality value concerned in the same manner as in
stock product selection processing at step s203. Then, the record
data corresponding to the selected product tag ID code is removed
from the receipt-of-product status view 229.
For example, in a situation where the product code "4933333" of the
stock product for redelivery corresponds to "-4" in the additional
column "Average temperature" included in the product master table
215 and where the detected quality abnormality is "Temperature", a
stock product is selected according to the product tag ID 550
"3241BAE134867" indicated in the top record data in the
receipt-of-product status view 229 that has been sorted on each
product tag ID code and further sorted in ascending order of
differences between temperature data 553 and average temperature
data on each product code (shown in FIG. 31).
In execution of the processing operations described above, on the
basis of quality abnormality history information acquired in the
past and arrival-of-product information, abnormality-prone sensing
item information and abnormality-resistant sensing item information
indicated at the time of shipment are calculated for each product
code, and a product selection is made according to approximation of
the result of calculation. In this manner, a stock product having a
value representing a condition that is less susceptible to
occurrence of a quality abnormality is selected. Thus, it is
possible to select a stock product that is unlikely to incur a
condition of excess beyond each of the upper and lower limit values
of the quality assurance ranges, i.e., it is possible to select a
stock product that is further less susceptible to occurrence of a
quality abnormality. Further, stock product data is sorted in
relation to each abnormality-prone sensing item corresponding to
each product code in the receipt-of-product view 229. Thus, on
detection of a quality abnormality, it is checked whether there is
a match with abnormality-prone sensing item data prepared as
mentioned above. Hence, just one search operation is required for
stock product selection, making it possible to implement product
selection at speed higher than that in the aforementioned product
selection step s1521.
While frozen foods and precision apparatuses are assumed as
products to be delivered in the descriptions given so far, the
present invention is applicable to any other kinds of products to
be delivered. In addition, the present invention is also applicable
to a variety of product delivery schemes including product delivery
schemes based on Internet shopping/purchasing.
Further, while a sensor-integrated RFID tag is used in the above
preferred embodiments, a sensor and an RFID tag may be provided in
a mutually separated form. In this case, a sensor ID code and a
product tag ID code should be linked in a one-to-one
correspondence.
Still further, while the server is installed in the data center in
the above preferred embodiments, the server may be installed in a
particular delivery center, for example. There may also be provided
such an arrangement that the control terminal and the storage
administrative terminal are disposed in a single integrated form.
In a case where the server is installed in a particular delivery
center, the server and these terminals may be provided in a single
integrated form.
Furthermore, while a unit of measure used to represent sensing
value data is invariable for data sharing in the product delivery
system as in the processing at step s2200 in the above preferred
embodiments, there may be provided an arrangement in which a unit
of measure is converted to allow data sharing in cases where
different units of measure are used, e.g., the Fahrenheit
temperature scale used by a temperature sensor is converted to the
Celsius temperature scale for data sharing in the product delivery
system. It is assumed that a unit-of-measure conversion is
performed at the time of registration into the database, for
example.
Moreover, while it is checked whether the storage room of the
delivery center is operating normally as in the processing at step
s301 in the above preferred embodiments, this checking is performed
for enhancement in reliability and is therefore optional in
carrying out the present invention.
As set forth hereinabove and according to the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, it is possible to significantly reduce
time and cost that are required in a conventional product delivery
system for labor-intensive detection of quality abnormalities,
investigation of detailed causes of quality abnormalities,
notification regarding detected quality abnormalities to customers
requesting product delivery, delivery centers, and deliverers, and
procedures for product redelivery. Note that the causes of quality
abnormalities include conditions exceeding quality assurance ranges
due to environmental changes, failures of apparatuses used for
product storage, misplacement of products in storage rooms,
impacting to products due to unpaved road conditions, etc.
* * * * *